Russia Opens Criminal Case Against Telegram’s Pavel Durov, Accuses Platform Of Enabling Terrorism
Russian authorities have initiated a criminal investigation against Pavel Durov, the founder and face of Telegram, alleging that the popular messaging platform has been used to facilitate terrorist activities. The development marks a sharp escalation in Moscow’s long-running standoff with the app, which continues to enjoy widespread use inside the country.
State-run newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta reported that the case was opened on the basis of materials submitted by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). Officials allege that Western and Ukrainian intelligence networks have infiltrated Telegram’s infrastructure to conduct operations on Russian soil.
The criminal inquiry follows an announcement earlier this month by Russian regulators that they would intentionally throttle Telegram’s internet traffic, citing repeated violations of domestic law. In parallel, the Kremlin has been actively promoting MAX, a state-backed messaging application, as part of its broader ambition to build a so-called “sovereign internet” a tightly controlled national digital space.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that content identified on Telegram had been flagged as a potential security threat, adding that multiple violations had been recorded and that the company’s leadership had refused to cooperate with Russian regulators. Rossiyskaya Gazeta further reported that officials claim Telegram was used in at least 13 alleged Ukrainian operations targeting senior Russian military figures, along with thousands of incidents involving bombings, arson attacks, and assassinations since the start of the war.
Despite the mounting pressure, Moscow has stopped short of an outright ban. Telegram is deeply woven into daily communication for ordinary Russians and government officials alike, and plays a notable role in wartime information flows. Russian officials have indicated the platform could continue operating if it falls in line with local regulations conditions that critics say would effectively require handing authorities access to encrypted messages and shutting down channels linked to the political opposition.
Durov’s fraught history with the Russian state stretches back more than a decade. He departed Russia in 2014 after selling his stake in VK a social network frequently compared to Facebook under mounting political pressure. He subsequently founded Telegram and now lives in Dubai, holding both Emirati and French citizenship. A previous attempt by Moscow to ban Telegram in 2018 collapsed and gave way to an uneasy truce, though renewed crackdowns on independent media and digital platforms have once again placed the app in the crosshairs.
Russia has already blocked major platforms including WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube, pushing many of its internet users toward virtual private networks to circumvent restrictions. Durov has not yet issued a public response to the latest investigation. Earlier this month, however, he publicly criticized Moscow’s measures, drawing a parallel to Iran’s attempts to restrict the platform.
The billionaire entrepreneur has also faced scrutiny in the West. Last August, French authorities detained him for three days as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activity conducted through Telegram, including the distribution of child sexual abuse material, drug trafficking, and financial fraud.